A view of the defendant's table in a courtroom closed due to budget cuts and layoffs, at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on March 16, 2009. Beset by an unprecedented budget crisis, the LA Superior Court, the largest trial court system in the US, laid off 329 employees and announced the closure of 17 courtrooms, with more of both expected in the future. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

ROCKVILLE, Md. (CBSDC) — A three-judge panel has reduced the 20-year sentence of Kevin Coffay, who was convicted of killing three people in a drunk driving accident in Montgomery County.

The panel reduced the sentence to 15 years with 7 years suspended. Effectively, Coffay will serve an 8-year prison term.

The judges said Coffay’s reckless actions did cost three teens their lives. However, those same teens were also drunk and twice chose to get in the car with Coffay as they drove to different parties.

Carolyn Hoover, the mother of one of the victims, strongly disagreed with the judges’ decision.

“Our kids did make a mistake for getting into that car,” she said. “They paid for their mistake while Kevin Coffay gets a slap on the wrist.”

Coffay previously pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter in connection with the accident. Authorities said the teen also fled the scene of the accident.

“To drink and drive, to speed down the road, to kill three people, to run away… it’s despicable,” Hoover added. “And the thought that he’s getting eight years — he’ll be eligible for parole next year — it’s a disappointment.”

The crash claimed the lives of 18-year-old Spencer Datt, 20-year-old John Hoover and 18-year-old Haeley McGuire.